TRIO Program

What Does TRIO Stand For?

Thomas University participates in three
federal programs geared to help future college students (middle school and high
school students) as well as current TU students to succeed. TRIO
is our nation's commitment to the dream of education for all Americans
regardless of race, ethnic background or economic circumstances. It is funded
by the U. S. Department of Education.

Student Support Services,
the program for existing students, helps eligible students find tools and
resources to stay in college and earn their baccalaureate degrees.

For pre-college students

The other two programs
that comprise this trilogy of federal programs serve the pre-college
student. They are Educational Talent Search and
Gear Up.

To better serve this
population, TU opened an office off campus in downtown Thomasville.

Educational
Talent Search (ETS) is an enrichment program for middle
school and high school students. The program provides services to 600 students
in several southern Georgia school districts. These are: Grady, Decatur,
Mitchell-Baker, Thomasville City, Brooks and Valdosta City Schools. The program
provides services such as after-school tutorials, workshops, college tours and
cultural enrichment activities.

GEAR UP stands for Gaining
Early Awareness and Readiness
for Undergraduate Programs. The GEAR UP program serves a
cohort of students who attend middle and high school in the Thomasville City
School System, specifically students who are in the eighth, ninth and tenth
grades. The purpose of the program is to encourage students to study hard, stay
in school, and enter into a postsecondary institution and graduate. This is
accomplished via school tutorials, field trips, workshops, in-school activities
and the provision of professional development activities for GEAR UP teachers.

The program also partners
with individuals and organizations in southern Georgia in order to accomplish
program goals. Program partners are the Thomasville Community Resource Center,
Communities In Schools, The Heritage Foundation, the Thomasville Cultural
Center and of course Thomasville City Schools and Thomas University.

For more information on
Educational Talent Search and Gear UP please contact Melanie Martin
at 226-1621, ext. 231.